Steam heating system



March 21, 193s. H. B. MCGINN'IS 1,902,288

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Filed March 17, 1950 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 HARRY B. MCGINNIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS STEAM HEATING SYSTEM applicati@ inea 'March `17, `1930. serial no. 436,511.

The present invention relates toV oilV traps for steam heating systems, and is moreparticularly adaptedto kbe used connection with 4those steam'heatingsystems which employ a gravity return line to the boiler.

Considerable diculty is experienced in the l operation ofrsteam heating systems because of oil which becomes a'dmiXed with the water.l

This oil causesV foaml to be formed withinthe system with a consequent impairment of the efciency of the system. Y Y

It is believed that thisv oil is that oil which remains in the various fittings ofthe boiler,

pipes and radiators after machining opera tions. Also, it is believedthat some core-oil remains within the interiorof the radiators and boiler after the molding or casting` of such parts. VAt any rate, sulch'oil is present in newlyinstalled systems, and it is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a simple and effective means-for effecting'its removal. V y The invention will be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, 1n which- Figure lis a somewhat diagrammatic view of a steam heating system of the gravity return line type, embodying the device of the 0 present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view ofthe oil trap of the present invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a conventional type of steam boiler heating system. The boiler 5 is provided with a water level gage 6, a steam outlet line 7 and a gravity water return line 8. The steam line 7 is connected to a main 9 provided with a `plurality of risers 10, each of which leads to one of a plurality of radiators 11. The main 9 is inclined downwardly in a direction leading away from the line 7 so that condensed steam from the radiators 11 will not flow back through line 7 into the upper portion of the boiler 5. The lowermost end of the main 9 is connected to the higher end of an inclined line 12.y .The lower end of the line 12 is connected to a riser 13 leading to the line 8 which is connected to Y 5-0 the boiler 5.

The foregoing isa conventional type of. steam lheating plant structure, and 1t 1s thought that amore detailed description of thesame is unnecessary.

- VThe devicey of the present `invention isdesignated as a whole at 14,' and comprises a vertical conduit member 15, the lower end of which is connected to the line 8 by meansofv a T 16. The upper end of the'conduit 'member 15 carries and communicateslwith a closed 60 chamber or boxV 17. The 'upper portion of the chamber 17 is provided with a valved drawoi'f line 18.? v f The interior-of thev T 16 is provided with a transversely disposed bae, or partitionl. kl

The upper edge of the partition 19 is provided with'a slot 2O which receives the lower end of `a sheet metal partition member 21 which has a close sliding lit withinthe upright conduit Vorpipe 15. YThe partition 21preferably ex- 70 tends at least to the upper end of thefpipe 15. The lower portion 'of the T 16 may be vprovided with a small drain coclr22 for drawing water from the system. y

The length of the conduit 15 is preferably 75 such that the top end of the chamber 17y and `'the drawoff-line 18 will be considerably below the horizontal plane ofthe water within the boiler during operation ofthe system.

The yoperation/should be readily' apparent. 80 The boilerris lled to the proper level'withy water and the valved line 18is 'opened to permit yany air-within the chamber 17 f and conduit 15 to be displacedv by water. `The line 8 isfullof water and a columnof water 85 extends into the-riser v13 to a point substantially-in the same vplane asfthe levelV of ythe water inthe boiler. `Steam passes from the boiler 5through line'7 and into the -main 9 from which it passesthrough risers 10 and 90 into the radiators' 11.

The steam condensed 1n lthe radiators 11 flows down throughthe Y risers 11 into the main 9, from which-it flows through the line 12 and into the riser 13. The condensate flows through the liner8 and as 95 it enters the T 16 it is causedto flow upwardly through the conduit 15 by the baflies 19 and v 21. As the water enters thecomparativ'ely -quiescent body ofwater within the chamber 17 any Oiladmixed therewith will risev to the 100- CII top of the chamber 17 and accumulate in the form of a layer. The water will then flow down the conduit 15 on the other side of the baffle 21 and back into the line 8 from which it is discharged into the boiler 5.

When a substantial quantity of oil has accumulated in the chamber 17 it maybe removed by simplyopening the valved yline 18. The oil will be forced out through the line 18 by the pressure of the water, as the level of the water in the boiler is :ordinarily .at deast as high as the top of the chamber 17.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described, it must be understood that it is not intended that Vthe invention should be limited thereto, since the same is ,capable .of many modificationsV .within .the scope-of the appended claims.

I claim: Y 1. .fIn ya -steam heating Ysystem having a -Steam boiler and one or more radiators, .the fcombination'o-f a conduit leading .from vthe `boiler .to the radiators `for supplying steam thereto, av second conduit connected to said conduit and .to -the steam boiler at a point `:substantially below the normal water level :within-said boiler vfor returning condensed steam from the radiators and from said firsty-named conduit tothe boiler, a chamber mounted -in a plane above the point of connection between said second-named Lconduit and .the ,boiler and in a Vplane substantiallyv ,below the normal level of the water within the boiler during operation of the system, .downwardly extendin'gfconduit means llia-,ving

.its upper .end .connected to the lower end .fof said chamber and 'its lower end connected Tto said second-named conduit a baffle -in Vsaid downwardly extending conduit, and Va v.drain conduit communicating with. the upper end of said chamber.

2. In a steam heating system having `a steam "boiler :and one `or more radiators, ythe combination ,of a-conduit leading from'the boiler --to the radiators for supplying steam thereto, la conduit connected .to the steam ,boiler at-.a :pointsubstantially below the normal water level within said boiler lfor .returning condensed steam from the radiators to .the boiler, a closed chamber Vdisposed above Hsaid .second-named `conduit in a plane sub chamber, .a ipipe ,connecting the lower part of the chamber and said conduit, and a baffle in said pipe.

4. In a heating system having a boiler, one or more radiators, and a conduit returning Y.condensed steam ,to said .boiler ,below the waterlineof .said boiler,means for separating ,oil from said condensed steam .comprising a .closed .chamber associated with said Ireturn conduit in a plane below the water line .ofi

.said boiler,`la riser .provided with ,a .baffle .connecting said chamber .and .the return .conduitand a lvalvecontrolled .drain in .the upper .end of-fsaid chamber.

5. In .a .heating system or more radiators', amain 4supplying said radiators with steam and Ya conduit .returningcond-ensed steam .to said boiler :below .the water .line @of said boiler, means for separating oil vfrom condensed steamcomprising' fa .chamber disposed .above said conduit and in-a plane below `the waterllevel .of the boiler, a valved drain in theupper end of said chamber, a pipe-.connecting .the lflower .part

Yof the l chamber vand :the `return.conduit adapted `to supply l.the Ychamberwith condensed steam and to return it to the conduit,.and a ltransversely partitioned T-ii-tting :connecting said pipe .andsaid return conduit.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix .my

signature, this 21st day of February, 1930.

.named 1conduit from the radiators .into the n lower yend of said chamber in an upwarddi- .rection and to withdraw water from the lowhaving .a boiler, .one $.90

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